No Time for Sadness

Finally, today's shoot is over. Good job, everyone. I can't wait to get home and relax a little bit after a whole day of shooting this movie.

"Toma, are you waiting for someone?" a co-star asked with a smile.

I smiled and with happiness in my voice, as always, said, "Yes, Dad will pick me up."

"Okay, nice. See you tomorrow."

"See ya, rest well," I said with a smile and waved to my co-stars happily.

Another cast member approached me with enthusiasm. "Great job today, Toma. Do you need a ride home?"

"You too were amazing today. You are amazing, senpai. You are my big inspiration. So much to learn from you." I was complimenting him because I knew how hard he worked today and he deserved to hear how great he did.

"No, no, it was nothing. Hehe, you were more than amazing. How about a ride home? Do you need it?"

"Oh no, no, it is fine. Dad will pick me up." I replied and went outside to see if my Dad had arrived.I waited a long time now. Everyone left already. I wonder if it is a traffic jam. I will call him in a few minutes.

Ring, ring, ring, ring. No answer.

Thirty minutes pass.

Ring, ring, ring, ring. No answer.

I will wait a little longer and then start walking, I guess. I hope my dad is fine.

My phone suddenly rang. Oh, it is my father. Great. He must be looking for me.

From the other side of the phone, Dad's voice was a little weird. "I fell asleep. Really bad. Sorry, son. Sorry, son, please forgive me. I can't pick you up. I really overslept."

"It is fine," I said. "Don't worry about it."

The phone call ended. He is drunk again, I thought to myself. Why does he do this? Should I be sad? No, there is no time for that.

I know, I will grab some noodles on the way home. Ooh, this street is so pretty. So many neon signs, and the walls of buildings are so nice and old school. I know there is a noodle shop at the end of the street. Down some old stairs, there is a great noodle shop.

Wow, these noodles look great. "One of whatever you recommend, sir," I said happily with a big smile. I can't imagine how hard he is working to make noodles. Must be really hard, I thought.

"Coming right away," the older gentleman who was making noodles said.

"Thank you very much, sir. You are amazing, and everything smells amazing. Your shop looks so cool."

"Ha ha, thank you, kiddo," the old gentleman said, smiling and making noodles.

The smell of noodles was moving around like a living creature. The air was so sweet. If air was touchable, I would eat it right now. The noodle shop was small and traditional. Even for its size, there was so much stuff there. I could tell that this shop was full of love. The noodles here are surely made with a lot of love, I thought.

I got my noodles. Time to go. "Thank you very much, sir."

"Take care, kiddo," the noodle cook said.

While walking up the stairs, I saw this beautiful woman. Wow, she is incredible. Wow, what is this smell? It must be her. Is she an angel? What an incredible-looking being. I smiled at her and got no reaction. She looks sad, I thought. Well, I hope my smile was not bothering her, and I hope she gets better, whatever it is. No one deserves to be sad.

Am I starting to get sad? No, not me. Never. Ha ha. Only thirty minutes' walk to my home, and then I get to eat these great noodles. I can't wait.